FY 2027 Budget Senate Ways & Means Budget

Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Recommendations

Executive Summary

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget recommendations are representative of the steady, stable, and long-standing leadership of Senate President Spilka and Chair Rodrigues. The Committee’s budget positions the Commonwealth to judiciously navigate ongoing volatility brought forth by the actions of the federal government and increasing geopolitical turbulence. As a sound and responsible budget framework, the Committee’s budget upholds Senate values, meets the needs of our communities, and invests thoughtfully to sustain the Commonwealth’s fiscal health, support economic resilience and protect against future challenges.

In accordance with the consensus revenue agreement reached in January, this prudent spending recommendation is based on a tax revenue estimate of $42.2 billion for FY 2027 (excluding the Fair Share surtax), representing a 2.4 percent increase over the current Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) benchmark.

Ensuring state spending is responsibly aligned with the estimated level of tax revenue growth while meeting the fiduciary commitments before us, the Committee’s budget recommends a total of $63.3 billion in spending, a $2.3 billion increase over the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and $66 million below the Governor’s FY 2027 budget proposal in House 2. General budget spending, excluding collections from the Fair Share surtax, represents an increase of $2 billion, or 3.5%, over the FY 2026 GAA.

Reflective of well performing surtax revenue collections to date, the Committee’s budget totals $2.7 billion in Fair Share spending to support quality public education initiatives and upgrades to the state’s transportation system in a fiscally sustainable manner.

Notably, the Committee’s budget does not raise taxes or fees, nor does it utilize resources from the state’s Stabilization Fund. Safeguarding the availability of “Rainy Day” fund reserves for future fiscal downturns, our budget also deposits an additional $51 million into the Fund. With this addition, the Fund’s balance would reach a historic high of about $8.2 billion by the end of FY 2027.

In accordance with the consensus revenue agreement reached in January, the FY 2027 budget includes $2.7 billion in estimated revenues generated from the Fair Share surtax. This represents the fourth year in which the Committee’s budget utilizes these revenues to support quality public education investments and bolster the state’s public transportation infrastructure. Together with the $1.38 billion in the consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget passed last month, the Senate is directing over $4 billion in Fair Share funds to invest in an array of education and transportation initiatives important to the success of the Commonwealth.

Notable Fair Share Education investments include: 

• $576 million for Student Opportunity Act Expansion to support the final year implementation of the Student Opportunity Act.
• $375 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program, which is matched with $100 million in funds from the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund, for a total investment of $475 million.
• $180 million for Universal Free School Meals.
• $137 million for free community college across the Commonwealth.
• $124.7 million for Income-Eligible Child Care.
• $119.4 million for DCF and DTA Related Child Care, providing critical early educational services for families eligible for subsidized care.
• $85 million to maintain MASSGrant Plus financial aid programs for in-state students attending state universities, which is in addition to the $176.6 million for scholarships support funded through the General Fund and $18.3 million in the recently passed Fair Share supplemental budget.
• $59 million for school transportation reimbursement costs.
• $28.4 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) Pre-K Initiative, maintain and support access to high-quality pre-K.
• $14 million for State University SUCCESS Funding.
• $10 million for UMass SUCCESS Funding.
• $2.25 million for Advanced Placement Math and Science Programs.
• $2 million for School-based Mental Health Supports and Wraparound Services, combined with $2.5 million in the Fair Share supplemental budget.
• $1.4 million for non-residential vocational school transportation.

Notable Fair Share Transportation investments include:

• $550 million to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.
• $470 million to support the operation of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). Together with the $535 million from the recently passed consolidated Fair Share supplement budget, the Committee is dedicating $1 billion in resources to fully fund MBTA’s operations for FY 2027.
• $220 million for the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund.
  $185 million to support Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) across the state for a total appropriation of $217.5 million in resources for FY 2027, including $40 million to support complete fare free fixed-route access across all Regional Transit Authorities.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee budget – thanks to the long-standing leadership and guidance of Senate President Spilka and Chair Rodrigues – has made education a hallmark priority throughout their tenure. As such, the Committee’s budget champions each education sector from pre-k through higher education and provides the resources that our students, schools, and teachers need to succeed. It satisfies our obligation to the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), provides significant funding to support the Department of Early Education and Care, and strives to shield our public higher education system against federal unpredictability, while promoting affordability for students seeking a degree.

Early Education and Care

The Senate Ways and Means Committee budget supports a substantial investment of $1.86 billion to maintain accessibility and affordability of our high-quality early education and care sector. With this level of funding, we remain deeply committed to doing what we can to responsibly support our early education workforce, protect early education programming, and maintain access to affordable care for many families across every region of the Commonwealth.

• $623.6 million for Income-Eligible Child Care and $597.2 million for DCF and DTA Related Child Care, providing critical services for families eligible for subsidized care.
• $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) operational grant program, supporting critical operational and workforce needs across the early education sector.
• $48.1 million for EEC Quality Improvement Initiatives.
• $28.45 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to maintain access to universal pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities in underserved areas.
• $20 million for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to support parents, childcare providers, employers, and community groups in navigating the state’s early education and care landscape.
• $20 million for grants to Head Start programs to promote school readiness for young children in low-income households.
• $5 million for grants to early education and care providers for childhood mental health consultation services.

 Elementary and Secondary Education

Unwavering in its support of school districts across Massachusetts, whether it be urban, suburban, regional, vocational–technical, or rural, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means budget once again features the Senate’s strong commitment to our schools, students, and teachers, dedicating significant funds to support our public K-12 education system and provide communities breathing room from the fiscal challenges that many of them are facing.

Chapter 70/The Student Opportunity Act. Concluding our long-standing commitment to fully implementing the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), we invest $7.66 billion in Chapter 70 representing an increase of $297 million over FY 2026. Recognizing the significant financial challenges facing all our school districts, the Committee’s budget also devotes an additional $52 million in resources for FY 2027, increasing minimum aid for school districts to a historic level of $160 per pupil. With these actions, the Senate is keeping its word and providing a much-needed hand-up to school districts feeling the weight of climbing costs and fiscal pressures that come with the responsibility of ensuring every student has access to high-quality public education across the Commonwealth.

Foundation Budget Review Commission. Nearly 7 years since SOA became law in 2019, the Committee’s budget revives and reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission as we satisfy our commitments to SOA, recognizing that the current fiscal landscape is pushing our local school districts to the financial brink. As escalating costs for special education, student transportation, personnel, and educator health care collide with local revenue constraints, declining enrollment and stagnant growth in state aid for minimum aid communities, the Senate’s budget fulfills the Senate President’s call for an examination of the current K-12 education formula to address rising costs and allocate resources to accurately, adequately, and fairly reflect the needs of all school districts across Massachusetts, whether it be urban, suburban, regional, vocational–technical, or rural.

Special Education Circuit Breaker. $652.6 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker in addition to the $200 million included in the recently passed consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget. Together, with the Fair Share supplemental funding, the Committee is recommending $852.6 million to reimburse school districts for the rising costs of educating students with disabilities and complex needs, funding at least 75% reimbursements to districts for both tuition and transportation.

Regional School Transportation. $114.2 million for regional school transportation from both General Fund and Fair Share resources, increasing reimbursements to 90% of district costs.

Rural School Aid. $20 million to support rural school districts, an increase of $8 million over FY 26. This includes $16 million in funding in the Committee’s budget in addition to the $4 million included in the recently passed consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget.
Other Education Investments.

• $200.4 million for reimbursements to school districts for costs incurred when students leave to attend public charter schools.
• $58.3 million for Adult Basic Education.
• $29.9 million for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program.
• $21 million for Early College Programs and $12.9 million for Dual Enrollment, along with $7.7 million for Innovation Pathways, further empowering high school students to pursue opportunities by taking college courses prior to graduation.
• $3.5 million for Social Emotional Learning Grants to help K-12 schools support social emotional learning programs and services for students.
• $3 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund to support ongoing efforts to educate middle and high school students on the historical significance of genocide.
• $2.5 million for the Civics Education Trust Fund to maintain a statewide civic infrastructure, provide professional development to teachers, and ensure that every student can access high quality civics education.
• $2.25 million for Advanced Placement Math and Science Programs.
• $1 million for Hate Crimes Prevention Grants to support K-12 schools with the education and prevention of hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools.

Higher Education

As a core building block of the Commonwealth’s economic foundation, our public higher education institutions are under constant pressure brought forth by the actions of the current federal government. Recognizing the need to protect these institutions during this volatile time, the Committee’s budget dedicates resources to maintain support for our public higher education system,  consisting of 15 community colleges, 12 state universities, and the 5 campuses of the University of Massachusetts, our flagship state university system, all of which are incredibly vital to meeting the education and employment needs of our citizens, and critical to the core of our state’s resilient economic ecosystem.

• $884 million for the University of Massachusetts, our world-class public research university system.
• $419.4 million for the fifteen community colleges, including $2 million for mental and behavioral health supports.
• $409.8 million for the nine state universities, including $2 million for mental and behavioral health support.
• $176.6 million for the Massachusetts State Scholarship Reserve.
• $137 million for full funding of the Commonwealth’s universal community college program — free of tuition and fees – continuing to fulfill the Senate President’s vision of providing support for this initiative in a regionally equitable manner across the Commonwealth.
• $38 million for the higher education wraparound services, including $14 million in General Fund resources, to support wraparound services for students attending community colleges campuses because of Free Community College, $14 million in Fair Share resources to support wraparound services for students attending state universities, and $10 million in Fair Share resources to support wraparound services for students attending UMass.
• $5 million for the Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education Initiative (MAIPSE) to support high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 with increased access to higher education opportunities, including $3 million for MAIPSE planning grants and $2 million for the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Trust Fund to fully implement the commitments of the 2022 public higher education access law. Paired with the $500K included for the MAIPSE Trust Fund in the recently passed consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget, the Committee’s budget is investing $5.5 million in FY 2027 to ensure access to inclusive higher education opportunities remains a top Senate priority.

Highlighting the Senate’s lasting commitment to a durable state-local partnership, the Committee’s budget dedicates significant resources to provide meaningful relief for our cities and towns, further ensuring that the Senate continues its strong support for the needs of every region, city and town, leaving no corner of our Commonwealth behind during this incredibly challenging time.

Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA). To sustain this productive partnership, the Committee’s budget provides certainty for cities and towns, funding UGGA at $1.376 billion, an increase of $53 million over FY 2026. With this significant increase in resources, the Senate is delivering real relief for all 351 cities and towns as they collectively manage municipal budgets and confront increased costs colliding with limited growth in municipal revenues.

Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). The Committee’s budget once again centers regional equity, ensuring RTAs remain vital to our communities and providing $217.5 million to support our regional public transit system, maintain regional bus service, sustain systemwide fare free transit service, and support the operational needs of our RTAs across the Commonwealth.

PILOT. Augmenting more traditional sources of local aid, the Committee’s budget dedicates resources for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to impacted municipalities, providing $55.3 million in additional revenue to help ease the budgets of fiscally strained cities and towns.

Arts, Culture and Libraries. Across the Commonwealth, our arts, culture, and libraries are institutions embedded in the fabric and vibrancy of our communities. The Committee’s budget makes investments to ensure that arts and culture programs are sustained locally, while maintaining access to a range of information, services, and programs that local libraries provide to our residents. It includes $53.4 million for libraries, including $19.4 million for regional library local aid, $20.4 million for municipal libraries and $6.3 million for technology and automated resource networks, and $27.4 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local creative initiatives.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee budget reflects the Senate’s strong commitment to ensuring accessible, affordable, sustainable, and quality health care and human services for Massachusetts residents despite current federal uncertainty. Recognizing that health care costs, labor costs, and caseloads have all been growing at a rate that far exceeds revenue growth for the Commonwealth, creating significant fiscal constraints in FY27 and beyond, the Committee’s budget preserves funding to safeguard our state’s safety net and protect core services for our most vulnerable populations.

MassHealth

The Committee’s budget funds MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), at a total of $22.74 billion ($9.32 billion net), a gross increase of $613.3 million (2.8%) over the FY 2026 funding level. Amid rising cost pressures, the Committee’s budget maintains access to comprehensive health care coverage for over 1.9 million of our Commonwealth’s residents. MassHealth covers more than 1 in 4 residents, nearly half of all children and 7 out of every 10 nursing facility residents.

• Expands the operations of the agency necessary to support members amid federal eligibility restrictions.
• Bolsters rate payments to nursing facilities to shore up access to care for the Commonwealth’s aging population.
• Maintains historic investments in the Commonwealth’s behavioral health system as established in the landmark Behavioral Health Roadmap and ABC Acts.

Mental Health
Building on the Senate President’s long-standing leadership on mental health issues, the Committee’s budget continues its commitment to protecting and safeguarding the delivery of mental health care and services in an accessible, equitable, and sustainable manner, investing over $1.3 billion to ensure we support the overall health and well-being of adults and children in need.

• $694 million for Adult Support Services, including $19 million to fully fund jail diversion initiatives to divert individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders from the criminal justice system and connect them with appropriate treatment.
• $395.1 million for DMH hospital and community-based services.
• $136.7 million for children’s mental health services.
• $27.4 million for Statewide Homeless Services
• $25 million for emergency department diversion initiatives for children, adolescents, and adults.
• $6.2 million for workforce support for Community Health Centers.

 Public Health

Undoubtedly, the Senate’s commitment to supporting our state’s public health infrastructure, sustaining public trust, and maintaining the quality of life for our residents continues to be unquestioned. To that end, the Committee’s budget invests nearly $1.16 billion to support public health programs, improve access to services, and promote healthier communities across all corners of the Commonwealth, regardless of race, income or zip code.

• $256.4 million for DPH hospital operations.
• $192 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS).
• $84 million for domestic violence prevention services.
• $38.3 million for early intervention services, ensuring supports are accessible and available to infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.
• $31.7 million for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
• $29 million for the State Lab and Disease Unit.
• $25 million for family and adolescent reproductive health.
• $22 million for school-based health programming and services.
• $19 million for maternal and child health, including $4.3 million to implement the home visiting program in accordance with the 2024 maternal health law.
• $15 million for grants to support local and regional boards of health to further strengthen our statewide public health apparatus. 
• $14.4 million for suicide prevention and intervention, with an additional $1 million for Samaritans Inc. and $1.2 million for the Call-2-Talk suicide prevention hotline. This investment will fully fund 988, the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline.
• $12.5 million for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. 
• $10.8 million for pediatric palliative care services for terminally ill children and language to ensure that children up to age 22 can continue to be served through the program.
• $8.9 million for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and pediatric SANE programs, providing safe and integrated services to protect children from abuse. 
• $2.7 million for the Childhood Lead Poisoning and Prevention Trust Fund. 
• $2 million for grants to maintain improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety.

People with Disabilities

In this time of fiscal constraint and federal uncertainty, protecting equal access to opportunities and dignity for persons with disabilities continues to be a critically important priority for the Senate. In response, the Committee’s budget invests over $3.35 billion into a diverse array of services and programs to empower and protect our residents with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities, ensuring Massachusetts remains a more equitable, accessible, and inclusive place in the face of an unfriendly federal government.

• $2.07 billion for DDS Community Residential Services.
• $372.3 million for State Operated Residential Services.
• $313.5 million for the DDS Community Day and Work Program.
• $131.4 million for DDS to support respite and family services.
• $110.4 million for services for children with autism including $7.9 million for the Children’s Autism Medicaid Waiver.
• $110.3 million for the Turning 22 program, which provides services to help young people with disabilities transition to adulthood. This level of funding will support the largest class in the history of the program. 
• $102.5 million for specialized services for adults with autism. 
• $33.1 million for head injury treatment services.
• $31.9 million for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind services.
• $29.2 million for the MassAbility’s vocational rehabilitation services.
• $13 million for the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, including funding to support the caregiver abuse registry mandated by Nicky’s Law.
• $11.3 million for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 
• $8.5 million for the eleven independent living centers across the state providing networks of support to help individuals of all abilities access opportunities and build community.

DDS Turning 22 Commission. Each year, the number of individuals entering the adult system grows, while the need for more services intensifies, highlighting a yearslong trend of both record caseload growth and the increasing acuity needs of this population. In response, the Committee’s budget creates a commission – chaired by EOHSS and EOE - to study gaps in the current delivery of transitional youth services and develop a comprehensive plan to improve and strengthen transition services and better overall Turning 22 program outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families. With the future of federal funding in doubt and limited availability of states resources, the Committee’s budget includes this commission to explore ways to modernize and preserve the delivery of transition services and better outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Aging and Independence

Massachusetts is a nationally recognized leader in age-friendly policies and practices, designated by AARP as age-friendly and the first state government certified as an age-friendly employer by the Age-Friendly Institute. Committed to supporting a growing aging population as they live and thrive, safely and independently, the Committee’s budget dedicates over $1 billion to support several programs and services that aim to prioritize the health and wellness of our aging residents, further supporting their right to live independently and age with dignity.

• $505.4 million for the Community Choices program.
• $412.3 million in total for the elder home care program and case management, providing critical health and social services to help seniors remain in their homes.
• $51.6 million for the Protective Services Program to prevent elder abuse and neglect.
• $29.2 million for grants to local Councils on Aging, maintaining assistance per elder at $16.
• $19.5 million for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, including a $500,000 investment to bolster protections for assisted living residents through enhanced safety standards and improved regulatory oversight.
• $13.4 million for Meals on Wheels and other nutrition programs for seniors.
• $14.1 million for the Congregate and Supportive Senior Housing Programs to support sites throughout the Commonwealth.
• $2.5 million for Geriatric Mental Health Services.

As part of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) signed into law last July, the federal government enacted the largest cuts to SNAP in history by expanding burdensome requirements and altering cost-sharing obligations with states. With these changes, nearly 100,000 Massachusetts residents may be at risk of losing benefits, and starting in FY 2028, Massachusetts may be required to cover up to $447 million annually in SNAP benefit and administrative costs due to new federal cost-shift obligations. In response, the Senate Ways and Means Committee’s budget takes proactive steps to ensure federal compliance and mitigate future impacts, while supporting our most vulnerable and maintaining investments in child assistance, anti-hunger, food security, and economic security initiatives.

Anti-Hunger, Supplemental Nutrition and Food Security Initiatives. The Committee’s budget is providing over $265 million to support anti-hunger, supplemental nutrition assistance and food security initiatives. This includes $147.7 million for DTA caseworkers to support staffing needs to maintain program integrity, protect access to SNAP food benefits and comply with new federal SNAP requirements. It also provides $55.2 million for Emergency Food Assistance to assist residents in navigating the historical levels of food insecurity, $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to support local farmers and ensure access to healthy food options, and $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. With this level of increased investment, the Senate is fighting food insecurity, while protecting access to basic food needs that residents, families, and children deserve.

TAFDC/EAEDC Benefits. The Committee’s budget maintains support for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC), providing over $640 million to maintain crucial benefits for individuals and working families experiencing deep poverty.

Maintaining the School Clothing Allowance. The Committee’s budget recognizes the continued challenges facing families with raising a child in a high-cost state, especially during this turbulent time. In response, our Senate budget dedicates funding to support a $500 per child clothing allowance, providing crucial assistance to families and every child seeking weather-appropriate clothing for the upcoming school year.

• $437.3 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $204 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC).
• $343.4 million for services for DCF-involved children and families.
• $320.9 million for DCF Social Workers.
• $147.7 million for DTA Caseworkers to support staffing needs and ensure compliance with new federal SNAP requirements.
• $129.6 million for DCF family support and stabilization services for the purpose of preserving family unity and preventing the placement of children into foster families or congregate care facilities.
• $55.2 million for Emergency Food Assistance to address food insecurity and the rising cost of food.
• $35 million for Family Resource Centers to providemental health resources and programming available to families
• $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program.
• $20.4 million for the DTA Employment Services Program to help low-income people move toward economic independence.
• $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.
• $7.9 million for the Office of the Child Advocate, including funding for the Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma.
• $5.5 million for Children Advocacy Centers to maintain supportive services available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused.
• $4.95 million for the Secure Jobs Connect program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals.

Committed to maintaining our nation leading support for the brave men and women who have served honorably to protect our liberty and our way of life, the Committee’s budget supports the mission of the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services and our Commonwealth’s veteran population. Building off the successes of last session’s HERO Act, this budget includes funding for veteran outreach centers, shelters for homeless veterans, transitional supports, and benefits for our veterans as well continued support for the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers’ Homes.

• $85 million for veterans’ benefits provided by municipalities, including cash, fuel and rent assistance, employment training and placement and health benefits.
• $45.4 million for Chelsea Soldiers’ Home.
• $36.8 million for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
• $12.5 million for the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Administration.
• $9.5 million for Veterans’ Outreach Centers providing peer counseling, employment skills building and job search assistance, substance use disorder counseling and other services.
• $3.9 million for critical transitional and housing assistance for homeless veterans.
• $2.5 million for veterans’ mental and behavioral health services through the Home Base program.
• $1 million for the Office of the Veterans Advocate.
• $721,444 for outreach and services targeted to women veterans.

As we shape a resilient fiscal path for the Commonwealth, addressing housing challenges and unlocking opportunity remain at the forefront of the Senate’s agenda. As such, the Committee’s budget invests over $1.1 billion, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services, and supporting efforts to reduce homelessness providing families and individuals in need with affordable, safe, and secure housing options.

• $278 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program to support more than 11,500 mobile and project-based rental vouchers.
• $258.6 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters.
• $201 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition to maintain program benefits and prevent evictions and homelessness upstream.
• $117.8 million for local housing authorities.
• $114 million for assistance for homeless individual shelters.
• $82.3 million for the HomeBASE program to support sustainable exits from shelter.
• $27.3 million for Homeless Programs Administration to support continued exits from the Emergency Shelter System.
• $21.8 million for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
• $19.2 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), providing rental assistance to people with disabilities.
• $10.4 million for assistance for unaccompanied homeless youth.
• $10 million for sponsored-based supportive permanent housing to support 16 new housing units and case management services for vulnerable individuals.
• $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including funding to support homeless LGBTQQ youth.
• $7.5 million for family shelter diversion to assist families experiencing homelessness by providing flexible financial assistance to rapidly divert, rehouse and find suitable alternative housing.
• $6.5 million in continued support for Resident Service Coordinators to help residents maintain stable tenancies at local housing authorities and provide households with the services they need.

Streamlined Local Permitting. Facing a sustained housing supply shortage, the Senate recognizes that a clear consistent local permitting process is critical to fostering new housing production across the Commonwealth. To that end, the Committee’s budget includes a series of provisions to streamline local permitting and provide more certainty. It strengthens developer protections during permitting, eases the burden of pre-existing nonconformities, provides reasonable timelines for projects to proceed under existing zoning rules, and modernizes the variance standard. These modest local permitting updates reflect a step in the direction of making Massachusetts more affordable for families and young adults.

The Senate recognizes that the economic and workforce development needs of every community, every region, and every employer are essential to the Commonwealth’s economic health and success. As we work to make Massachusetts more affordable and competitive, the Committee’s budget maintains investments in workforce development programs that support residents and employers as we shape a forward-looking and more resilient economic future for our Commonwealth.

• $15.3 million for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth through the YouthWorks program.
• $9.9 million for One-Stop MassHire Career Centers and MassHire Department of Career Services.
• $8.9 million for Career Technical Institutes to increase our skilled worker population and provide residents with access to career-technical training opportunities.
• $5 million for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
• $4.95 million for Small Business Technical Assistance grants.
• $1 million for Regional Economic Development Organizations.
• $1 million for employment programs for young adults with disabilities.

Protecting the environment, preserving natural resources, guarding against climate change, supporting our farmers, and advancing clean energy remain important priorities for the Senate. To that end, the Committee’s budget maintains the momentum from the recently passed $3.94 billion MassReady Act and invests over $455 million to deliver on our commitments to protect our prized environmental resources, ensure clean air and water, and take the necessary steps to preserve our natural habitats.

• $153.8 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation to support the Commonwealth’s state parks system
• $80.4 million for the Department of Environmental Protection to steward the Commonwealth’s air, land, and waterways.
• $67.2 million for the Department of Agricultural Resources to promote and support the Commonwealth’s food security and local food economy.
• $28.4 million for the Department of Public Utilities to ensure proper pipeline and utility safety, including $3.6 million for the Energy Facilities Siting Division to continue to implement key provisions of the 2024 climate law.
• $10 million for a transfer to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to support investments in the Green Economy Workforce.
• $9.5 million for the Division of Marine Fisheries.
• $7.3 million for the Department of Energy Resources to strengthen and implement clean energy policy in the Commonwealth.
• $5.1 million for the Division of Ecological Restoration to protect the Commonwealth’s rivers, wetlands, and watersheds.
• $4.3 million for climate change adaptation and preparedness programs to enhance resilience and to address the mounting threat of climate change.

Judiciary

The Senate has always defended fair and equal treatment under the law as a permanent bedrock of the Commonwealth, centering the right to due process as something we must fundamentally protect as we brace for continued pressure from an unfriendly federal government. To that end, the Committee’s budget invests over $1.5 billion in programs that uphold equal justice, fairness, and integrity in the courtroom, while supporting individuals with the opportunities to re-enter society as law-abiding citizens contributing to the greater good of our Commonwealth.

• $1 billion for the Trial Court system.
• $380 million for the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
• $206.4 million for the Office of Probation.
• $51 million for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.
• $3.4 million for the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee.
• $3.4 million for Prisoners’ Legal Services.

Public Safety, Justice Reinvestment, and Recidivism Reduction

Reflective of the Senate’s ongoing commitment to greater accountability, equity, and transparency, the Committee’s budget provides significant funding to support the entire criminal justice system and public safety apparatus. With these thoughtful investments, the Senate is prioritizing the safety and security of our communities with funding to reduce recidivism, prevent neighborhood violence initiatives, study the service delivery of emergency medical services, and support our first responders, police, and fire personnel who serve to protect our Commonwealth.

• $810.2 million for Sheriff’s offices across the state.
• $607.7 million for the Department of State Police, including $34.4 million for the State Police Crime Lab and $10.4 million to support a new class of state police cadets.
• $187.1 million for District Attorney’s offices across the state.
• $87.8 million for the Office of the Attorney General.
• $45.1 million for the Department of Fire Services, including $2 million for the Student Awareness Fire Education program and $2 million for the Critical Incident Stress Management program.
• $28.6 million for the Office of the Medical Examiner.
• $24.5 million for the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center to provide education, treatment, and re-entry planning for people who are incarcerated and civilly committed males.
• $22.1 million for the Municipal Police Training Committee.
• $16.1 million for a grant program to provide community-based residential re-entry services.
• $10.1 million for the Shannon Grants gang violence prevention and intervention program.
• $9.6 million for the POST Commission and four other small police reform related commissions.
• $7 million for the continuation of an emerging adult reentry program to help reduce recidivism among our younger resident populations.
• $6 million for Municipal Public Safety and Emergency Staffing grants.
• $5 million for the Non-Profit Security Grants.
• $1 million for a grant program to assist communities with making public health-oriented adjustments to their public safety systems, including efforts to implement jail diversion programs, de-escalation training, and hiring behavioral health staff.